Airport News - UK Airspace Suspended

15/04/2010

UK airports in Standstill

All of the UK and some European airports have been brought to a standstill following a Volcanic eruption in Iceland, the Volcanic cloud produced by the volcano has drifted in strong winds over the UK and has forced all UK airports to either close or ground its flights.

Glasgow and Edinburgh were the first airports to close due to the natural phenomenon with the rest of the airports such as Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester following suit, flights were expected to be allowed back in the air by 1800 tonight although recent reports are now saying it is more likely to be 0600 tomorrow morning as the volcano is still actually erupting volcanic ash and winds are sending it straight th the UK.

Volcanic ash contains rock and dust particles which would clog the huge jet engines on the jumbo jets causing them to fail and potentially causing aircraft to plunge out of the sky, security measures were taken after the airports were given a warning from the Met Office before the UK's air traffic control service (Nats) stepped in and said no aircraft was to attempt flight.

A Ba plane was once nearly caught out by volcanic ash when all 4 engines failed due to the ash clogging the engines luckily the planes engineers managed to revive the engines so the plane could land safely

This has meant around 4000 flights being delayed or cancelled and will have a knock-on effect that will no doubt take some time to clear travelers are advised to contact their airline providers if they are due to fly in the next 24 hours.